She sprang into the limelight in 2022 when her post went viral on TikTok. It was a light-hearted video of her and her ex, musician Stivo Simple Boy. The clip sent tongues wagging and thrust Purity Vishenwa, aka Pritty Vishy, into fame.
Nothing prepared her for the roller coaster ride that was to follow. From that viral clip posted as she prepared to sit for KCSE exams in Form Four, to becoming a TikTok sensation who recently dropped a staggering 40kgs through Ozempic, Pritty Vishy shares her journey of triumph over the ruthless jabs that characterise Kenya’s online space, rebranding herself and her fear of marriage and motherhood.
This is not a trick question. How old are you?
I am 23. My mother gave birth to me when she was just 15 years old, after getting pregnant at 14. That shaped my entire childhood. Growing up, I had to toughen up very fast. A 15-year-old doesn’t know what it means to raise a child, so I had to raise myself in many ways.
Tell us a bit about your childhood…
I was born and raised in Kibera. When my parents’ relationship hit rocky ground, I was sent to live with my great-grandmother in Vihiga. I was about five years old. Unfortunately, when I came back to Nairobi three years later, I couldn’t live with my mum. She had remarried and had children with her new husband. The man was abusive and exploitative, but my mum couldn’t leave him because she was pregnant. She stayed for the sake of her children. I was sent to a children’s home in Kawangware.
How did your life change after your post went viral?
My life changed drastically in 2022 when a TikTok video of me and my ex-boyfriend, Stivo Simple Boy, went viral. It was just a normal video — casual talk — but the reaction was overwhelming. I was still in school when it happened. I was in Form Four, preparing for my KCSE exams. Teachers started acting weird, and those around me treated me like a stranger.
I wasn’t ready for the pressure that came with fame, and soon it began taking a toll on me. I developed ulcers and was even hospitalised due to stress. My mental health was down, I was alone, and still trying to study. One of my aunts told me something that changed my life: That people will always talk, but it’s what I do with that attention that matters.
What inspired you to join the entertainment industry?
Despite my academic struggles, one teacher saw something in me that others didn’t – my talent and passion. He believed in me so much that he often helped me sneak out of school for interviews. He knew the entertainment space was where I thrived. I was the entertainment prefect from Form One to Form Four, always involved in music and drama. I could sing, I could act…that was my world.
Do you think social media has helped accelerate your career growth in entertainment?
Social media has pushed me in ways I didn’t expect, mentally, physically, and financially. It came with pressure, trolls, and intense scrutiny. But it also gave me visibility and a platform. It gave me confidence. Most importantly, it helped me discover who I am.
Let’s talk about your weight loss. You have created quite a buzz online …
Oh my God, let me tell you something, I have never been this light in my life! I currently weigh 73kg, and the last time I weighed anything close to that was in Class Eight. My starting weight was 112kg. Losing 40 kilos has completely changed how I feel about myself. I feel confident and beautiful. I feel like the Beyoncé of Kenya.
What prompted you to start your weight loss journey?
It started in September last year. I went to see a doctor, and he told me I weighed 109kilos. He said, “You’re only 23, this weight is too much.” That hit me hard. Around that time, I was dealing with a lot — from insecurities in my relationship to online bullying about my body size. A friend told me about a spa that offered weight-loss treatment. That’s when I first heard about Ozempic. I did my research and decided to try it out. I didn’t just jump in blindly, I looked up the side effects, benefits, and everything.
Using Ozempic for weight loss has drawn heavy criticism from experts and the general public alike. Why did you swim against the current?
I decided to do it because I had done my research and understood what I was getting into. People were saying all sorts of things — that I could get kidney failure, that I might die, that it could cause cancer. What people don’t realise is that obesity kills too. It’s not something to take lightly, the health risks, the high blood pressure, and the strain on the body. That’s not something to smile about. So no, I didn’t care much about the negativity. I was confident in my decision because I had done my homework.
So, no worries at all?
My only fear is about maintaining the new weight, but I genuinely love where I am now.
What are you doing to maintain your current weight?
I haven’t removed any foods from my diet. My trainer helped me understand that the body needs those foods that also cause weight gain. The secret is to control portions. I have reduced my portions and sometimes, I do intermittent fasting.
My doctor insisted I hit the gym regularly after a month of using Ozempic. She encouraged me to be consistent, and that helped. I work out regularly.
Has your social media portfolio changed? How's your DM looking these days?
People seem to be attracted to this version of me. And I am not going to lie, a lot of men seem to love this current version of me…the one after the weight loss. But before I get too excited, I always pause and ask myself: Where were they before?
Because they mocked the older Pritty, the plus-size me. Now they want this ‘new’ me… but they didn’t invest in this version. They didn’t walk the journey with me.
So then I think — what if life happens, yeah? What if I gain weight again?
Let’s say I get into a relationship, I get pregnant, and we all know pregnancy changes a woman in so many ways. What if I gain the weight back? Will this man, who chose me based on how I look now, still love me then? Will he be patient? Will he support me emotionally? That’s why, even though my DMs are wild right now, I don’t get overly excited. I just look at them and think, “Okay, bye.”
So, no wedding bells around the corner?
I fear marriage, and I fear becoming a mother. Watching what my mum went through…I just don’t want to go through that. She always tells me to be careful and to make better choices.
At my age, she already had three children. That pressure scares me.
Besides admirers, as a digital content creator, have you gotten more opportunities from brands?
Yes, definitely. More brands are reaching out, especially those in the weight loss space. But here’s the thing, I don’t say yes to everyone. Some of these companies want to use my image to push their products without understanding my journey. They expect me to promote their products while hiding the real story behind my transformation. That is not who I am. I have always been honest with my online audience. I have never hidden the fact that I tried different things, and I share the ups and downs openly. So when a brand approaches me but wants to gloss over the truth or pretend it was only their product that changed everything, I’m like, 'Do you even follow me? Do you know who I am?' Because my real fans — my community — know the full story. I didn’t fake it. I didn’t lie. And I will never work with a brand that expects me to lie.
